Electric switch.



F. SCHNEIDER. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILEDIEB.13, 1911.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. SCHNEIDER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION PILED TBB.18,1911.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z cured to the frame by pins 11, is nevertheless capable of a certain amount of move;

ment longitudinally of the spindle, but is resiliently heldvagainst the base'and thus against the terminals, when placed in position thereover, by means of sprin s 12 sur rounding saidpins and interposed between the frame and stud member.

Frame-member 9 is not rigidly securedto.

the spindle 8, but is connected therewith through the medium of a flat coil spring 13 attached at its inner end to said. spindle, and atits outer end to a. suitable lug 14 provided for this purpose on the upper face-of the member. Rotation of such member is furthermore controlled by means of a catch 15 the construction of which is. best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. This catch is reciprocally held in two upwardly projecting arms 16 on the membei, and has one end adapted to successively engagev a'fseries 'of four pins or lugs 17 mounted in the edge of the flange of the supporting base 3'. Said reciprocable catch is normally held in ,position thus to engage a retaining lug, and is likewise movable out of such position, by means of a cam 18 carried by'the spindle and engaging with a shoulder on the reciprocable member, said shoulder being con veniently provided by forming an open bond 1 19 in the catch, as illustrated in figures just referred to. Oppositely disposed from the cam on the spindle is a lug 20, so conformed as to. engage with the same bend and lock the spindle against rotation.

'As a result-of the foregoi the-nori'nal-position of the parts justdescribed, is that illustrated in Fig. 3, where the lug 20 on the spindle thus locks the latter against rotation, with the catch in engagement with a lug 17 on the base. Upon rotating such spindle, however, in the di-v rection of the arrows appearing onsaid figure, the effect is to throw the catch out of engagement with said lug, the parts being shown in Fig. 5 as they appear justat the moment of release of the catch from the lug next following the one engaged in Fig. 3. The elfcct of rotating the s'pmdle, however,

through substantially 90 degrees, as is neces- 1 sary to effect such release of the catch, is to wind up thecoil spring 13, wh1ch is consequently under tension at the t1me of release. The frame and parts carried thereby.

are accordingly moved instantly, but inas much as the spindle remains stationary, the

effect.- of such movement is again to throw out the catchy15,-so that it will engage with the next succeeding stop lug 17. ,-The operation may then be'repeated, and so theswitch caused to successively assumes position in which the terminals are bridged,

, or connected, and one in which theyv are disconnected, or in other words, to assumean on and oil posltion.

construction;

" eral successive-partial rotations, inasmuch a While the spindle may be directly rotated by the operator, and while in certain fields of use this modeof operationgmay prbve the mostconvenient, I have found it desirable where the switch'is used-in a portable han-.

dled-too-l, to provide means for this purpose of the sort'illustrated in Fig. 1. Such illustrated means comprise-a second spindlc'21 centrally rotatably held within the handle 1 proper and carrying at its outer end a knurled sleeve 22 partially inclosing said handle and providing a grip for the opera tors'use. Said spindlemaybe'in effect respindle 8, the two being non-rotatably secured together, although electrically insulated from each other, so that the parts of the switch previously described, it'zwill be observed, are entirely thus separated from the casing and the rest-.of the mechanism. The insulating medium between the two spindles in the present instance is conveniently provided by means of av gear 23 of -fiber or like material fixedly mounted on the inner end of the spindle 21 into which garded as a continuation of the switch sov gear the outer. end of the switch-spindle eX- tends and is there pinned, o'r' keyed. Said gear 23 meshes'with a pinion 2 1. rotatably mounted on the outer wall of the handle casing, towhich gear, or rather to an extension 25 thereof, are eccentrically secured the erfds of two tension springs 26 l ving their other ends secured to said casing at points symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of-said pinion. A pawl 27 further en-;

gages the teeth of the gear 23'so as to permit' movement thereof in the direction of. the arrows, Figs. 2 and 4, but not in a rethe'pawl will' prevent reverse movement f the parts. Withthe parts in the position, however, of F ig.-et,t-he springs will continue the. rotativ'e movement of the pinion -24 and thusof the gear 23 and spindle 8,1'1nless restrained by the operators 1 grasp on the sleeve 22 carried by the spindle 21. In other words, themoment he releases such sleeve, the springs will resume their normal position and by so'doing will snap the switch a secondtime, restoring the same to the original position from which it was started.

Accordingly, not only does the operating mechanism for the switch providea con- .iis

venient means whereby the operator can c'on- 30 trol the latter without shitting his hand from the handle used in manipulating the tool, but the moment he releases his hold on the handle, whether through accident or (airclessncss, the current is shut oil and thus a large element of danger, especially in the handling of the more powerful tools of this type, is eliminated. It will be umlerstood that where the tool is a drill the tool spindle is geared down so that it the body at the tool is free from the operatofis' control while the tool itselili is held fast, as by sticking in the work, such body will rotate at a considerable speed with attendant (.lisastrons results.

Figs. 8 and 0 illustrate a simpler form ol' operating means for imitating: the switch spindle, such means, however, being shown as incci'i iioiaited in a handle oi the ltiud here inbe'lore referred to. A solid spindle 2R rotatably held within the handle, is here con nected with. the switch-spindle S and, as be: tore, carries a sleeve 25) that int-loses the handle proper so as to form a strip for the o' ierator, both for the ordinary mani mlation of the tool. and for etl'ectine rotation of the switch-spindle. in order that the movement of the lattermay be eonlincd to the proper direction, a springpressed plunger 30 is transversely mounted in the spindle extension 28 and tour notches 31 a re provided in the adjacent portion of the handle wall so as to be engaged by said 1 lunger in each of the .Etllll' positions which the spindle shomd successively assume, as the switch is moved oil' to on and on to off. The details of the switch are the same as before and need not he described in detail.

Other modes oi applying the principle of my intention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re gards the mechanism herein disclosedbrorided the means statedby any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be ei'nployed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described, the C(Jllllfillltttlfill of two spaced contacts; a movable piece adapted to bridge said contacts; tension means :tor cllecting, and a catch for restraining, such movement; a spring; tending; to hold said catch in its restrainimz position; and means adaptedto render said tension means operative and thereupon release said catch.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of tvm spaced contacts; a rotatable piece adapted to bridge said conta ets; a coil spring adapted, when wound up, to etlect rotation of saidbridge piece; a cateh'adapted to restrain such rotation; a spring tending to hold said catch in its restraining position; and means adapted to rind up said spring and thereupon release said catch.

In a device of the charzuzter tlCSCIiliGtl, the combination ol :1 base Oil smtable material; two spaced contacts mounted thereon a member rotatal'ily mounted b tween said contacts; a piece carried by Sold member and adapted to bridge said contatas, said piece being movable relatively to said member; and resilient; means, interposed between said member and piece, adapted to press the latter against said contacts.

L1. in a device ot the character described, the combination ot a base oi suit-able 1naterial; two spa -1 d contacts mounted thereon; a. member rotatably mounted between said contacts; a piece carried by said member and adapted to bridge said contacts, said piece being movable relatively to said membcr; resilient. means. interposed between said member and piece, adapted to press the latter against said contacts; a coil spring adapted, when wound up, to ell'ect rotation of said member, and thus of said bridge piece; a catch adapted to restrain such rotation; and means adapted to wind up said spring and thereupon release said catch.

5. In a device or" the character described,

the combination ol a ba e of suitable Inaterial: two spaced contacts mouizlezl thtreo'ni a member rota abb: mounted between said contacts; a piece carried by said member and adapted to bridge said contacts, said piece being movable re atirely to said member; resilient means, interposed bctweejrn said member and piece, adapted to press the latter against said contacts; a veil spring adaptedgvben wound up, toelleet rotation oi said member. and thus of said bridge piece; a seriesno't' stops alternately corresponding with on and oil positions o't' said piece; a rta'irn'ocable catch adapted to engage sue eessive stops to restrain rotation of said member; and a spindle :dapted to wind up said spring and thereupon reciprocate said catch to release the some.

(3. .ln a device of the character described, the cinnbiuation at a base of suitable material; two spaced contacts mounted thereon; a member rotatablv mounted between said contacts; a piece carried by said member and adapted to bridge said contacts. said piece bcingggmorablc relatively to said member; resilient means, interposed between said mcin her and piece, adapted to press the latter against said contacts; a series of stops alternately corresponding with 011" and off positions of said piece; a reciprocable catch adapted to engage successive stops to restrain rotation of said meml'ier; a spindle provided with a cam adapted to reciprocate said catch to release the same; .and a coil spring' connected at one end to said spindle and at the other to said member, whereby the latter is rotated when said catch is thus released.

T. In a device of the character (.lescribed,

the combination of two spaced contacts; a

.movable piece adapted alternately to make and break contact with said contacts means for moving-said piece, lncludinga spindle rotatable in only one direction; and resilient .means connected with said spindle, said resilient means being vso disposed as to be under tension when said piece is in its on POSltlOIl, and being adapted, on releaseof said spindle, to rotate said spindle and thereby move said .piece to its 011' position. 4

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of two spaced'contacts; a movable piece adapted alternately to make and break contact with said contacts; means for moving said piece, including aspindle rotatable in. only one direction; -a' plnion' cared to. saids indleand a sorin connected with said pinion and adapted to beand break. contact with said contacts;-a coil springadapted, w ien wound up, to effect rotation of said piece; a catch adapted to restrain such rotation; means adapted to wind means connected with said spindle, saidresilient means being disposed so as to be 7 under tension when said piece is in its on position, and being adapted, on release of sald spindle, to rotate said spindle and thereby move saidpiece to its ofi position.

10. In a device of the character described,

the combination of two spaced contacts; a-

rotatable piece adapted alternately to make and break contact with said contacts; a coil sprin adapted, when Wound up, to eflect rotation of said piece; a catch adapted to restrain such rotation; means adapted to wind up said spring and thereupon release said catch, said means including a spindle rotatable in only one direction; a pinion geared to said spindle; and a spring connected with said pinion and adapted to be under tension when said piece is in its on position, and being adapted. on release of said spindle, to rotate said spindle and thereby move said piece to its off position. Signed by me this 6th day of February,

I 4 Attested by- CHRISTINE E. Aims, ,JNO. F. OBERLIN. 

